Goldfish Memory & Orange Soda

The party was already giving me anxiety when Jace dragged me through the door. My orange hoodie felt way too bright, practically screaming 'freshman who doesn't belong.'

"Relax, you've got the memory of a goldfish anyway," Jace laughed, handing me a red solo cup. "You won't remember this in like, two hours."

I rolled my eyes. "That's not how that works, and you know it. Also, why does everyone say that about goldfish? They actually have decent memories."

"You're such a nerd, Maya." But he was grinning.

Then I saw her. Taylor. The girl I'd been lowkey crushing on since September, standing near the DJ setup like she owned the place. My heart did that stupid thing where it basically tried to escape my chest cavity.

"Go talk to her," someone pushed me from behind. I turned to see Jake, this senior who looked like he'd been chiseled from stone. Total bear mode. "She's been looking at you all night."

"No she hasn't."

"Bro, I'm not bullshitting you." He crossed his arms, all six-foot-two of him radiating big brother energy. "Life's short. Do it before you overthink it into oblivion."

Before I could respond, the sky outside lit up like someone had flipped a switch. Lightning forked across the windows, followed immediately by thunder that rattled the whole house. Everyone screamed, half-laughing, and the power cut out completely.

Pitch black. Chaos.

Someone bumped into me hard, spilling what I assumed was punch all down my front. "My bad!" a voice called out, already moving away.

Great. Just great.

Then a phone flashlight clicked on near me. Taylor's face appeared in the glow, her expression genuinely concerned. "You okay? That looked like it hurt."

"I mean, my dignity is wounded, but I'll survive," I heard myself say.

She laughed. A real laugh. "Well, for what it's worth, orange is actually your color. Even when it's soaking wet."

We spent the next hour sitting on the back porch, watching the storm roll through, talking about everything and nothing. She thought my goldfish facts were actually interesting. She admitted she was just as nervous about parties as I was.

"So," she said as the lights finally flickered back on, "you doing anything tomorrow?"

My heart was definitely trying to escape again. But this time? I didn't mind at all.

"Now that you mention it..."